Do NHL fans overrate the importance of 'depth'?

[Nikishin al Gaib]

The only way depth isn't more important than skill is if you have once in a lifetime generational players on your roster.

Edmonton is that case study right now with McDavid and Draisaitl and little else to write home about. Otherwise, once you get to the later rounds of the playoffs, a solid defensive line can shut down any top scoring line, and that is when you need depth scoring to win you games.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The only way depth isn't more important than skill is if you have once in a lifetime generational players on your roster.

Edmonton is that case study right now with McDavid and Draisaitl and little else to write home about. Otherwise, once you get to the later rounds of the playoffs, a solid defensive line can shut down any top scoring line, and that is when you need depth scoring to win you games.

Edmonton stars are shining, but their depth isn't doing bad. They're getting what they need from everyone right now. Like Vasily Podkolzin has 6 points in 11 games and is 9th on team in scoring. Jake Walman is 4th among DMan in minutes played and is a +13.

 

[HSF]

The only way depth isn't more important than skill is if you have once in a lifetime generational players on your roster.

Edmonton is that case study right now with McDavid and Draisaitl and little else to write home about. Otherwise, once you get to the later rounds of the playoffs, a solid defensive line can shut down any top scoring line, and that is when you need depth scoring to win you games.

Kane, RNH, Hyman, Brown as support is pretty good and have been producing. They also have decent depth in Janmark, Henrique, Podkolzin

 

[dgibb10]

The whole discussion is one I really don't think it's as close as some people want to believe it is IMO. Yes, there's exceptions but they (depth) all have of a underlying theme of huge unsustainability.

Elite players (top of the league) with polished offensive games + disgusting play-driving and ice tilting moments have a greater chance of leading you to wins in a playoff season.

More better to have good players than just 3-4 lines.

The NHL unironically is close to the NBA.

I agree with this. You can also fix your forward "depth" with like 6 guys if they're good enough

2 stars each on lines 1 and 2 with a mid guy there as the complimentary guy on those lines (and these guys will get their numbers pumped up by playing with said stars and soon become overrated)

Then an elite 3C and 4C to carry those lines with mid bottom 6ers around them.

 

[AfroThunder396]

Carolina vs NJ really demonstrated this. With Jack Hughes out, Carolina could send all of their defensive match-ups to bog down Hischier and Bratt and then the rest of their roster had a field day against NJ's horrendous depth.

 

[frontsfan67]

The way I see it- if you have no depth then you’re screwed if your stars begin to struggle. Look at oilers vs avalanche a few years ago. They were lost when Makar was slowing down McDavid.

Stars are stars. They’ll still score if good enough, but a good defensive team can really limit those opportunities.

McDavid and Draisaitl can score a goal or two per game and keep them in it making it close but most times scoring a goal or two in a playoff game- you lose! If guys like Kane, RNH, Arvidsson aren’t on their game and they played a team like Florida who has lots of depth, you can shut down guys like Barkov, Tkachuk, Verhaeghe but what happens when guys like Bennett, Marchand, lundell, etc start scoring? Even if the stars struggle they have that extra cushion. That’s been edmontons kryptonite for years and years. They’re a better team for that this year but in previous years that was by far their Achilles heel nevermind goaltending.

Anybody that can’t understand the concept of how important depth scoring is needs to properly educate themselves because like a guy said a little above me- it’s not basketball you don’t have 48 min games where a guy like Connor McDavid plays 43 of those minutes. Need other guys to step up. That’s why hockey is the ultimate team sport.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Kane, RNH, Hyman, Brown as support is pretty good and have been producing. They also have decent depth in Janmark, Henrique, Podkolzin

If anything, Edmonton is the case study for answering this question. Year over year they keep building out their depth and going deeper in the playoffs, to the point of barely missing the Cup last year and being the prohibitive favorite for this one.

It’s not like you can just completely blow off either star talent or depth, both are needed. But if a team with McDavid and Draisaitl can’t win, and a team like the 2019 Blues can, then that’s a clear illustration of which one comes first.

 

[HSF]

If anything, Edmonton is the case study for answering this question. Year over year they keep building out their depth and going deeper in the playoffs, to the point of barely missing the Cup last year and being the prohibitive favorite for this one.

It’s not like you can just completely blow off either star talent or depth, both are needed. But if a team with McDavid and Draisaitl can’t win, and a team like the 2019 Blues can, then that’s a clear illustration of which one comes first.

doesnt matter which comes first

you need talent and depth. I think the sens have decent depth but lack a bit of talent and speed